Vegetable cleaner



June 16, 1 942. J, 1- o s 2,286,393

VEGETABLE CLEANER Filed June 6, 1938 INVIENTOR. 54 Z4- Z6 4 27 Z7BY P I Thomas.

' Z6 7 5 25 I IE E ATTOR E).

Patented June 16, 1942 VEGETABLE CLEANER Joseph 'Thomas,'Walnut Grove, alif., assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Caliih, a corporation of Delaware Application ,June16, 1938, Serial No. 212,053

24 Claims.

This invention relates to vegetable cleaning apparatus, and, although susceptible of more or less general application to a wide variety of products, is especiallywell suited for cleaning asparagus, and hence, for purposesof this disclosure, will be described as it may be used in that connection.

As is well known, the cleaning of asparagus for commercial purposes presents aparticularly difficult problem by reason -of the tenderness of the stalks which necessitates careful handling to avoid injury, and such methods of cleaning as have heretofore been employed are generally ineffective to accomplish thorough cleaning, as well as beingslow and unsuited to modern production requirements.

It is the general" object of the present invention to provide a vegetable cleaning machine which is capable of effecting a thorough cleaning of the vegetables without injuriouslyrough treatment thereof.

A more specific object is to provide a-machine which iswell adaptedfor cleaning asparagus effectively and without injury. thereto.

Another object is to provide a vegetable cleaning machine of the character referred to, which is continuous in operation,'has a large capacity, and is of simple and. inexpensive construction.

Further objectsand'advantages will best be understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment taken in connection-with the accompanying drawing thereof, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a machine embodying the-invention, as viewed along the line l--l of-Fig..2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

In the drawing, the reference character indicates an open topped tank within the upper portion of which are mounted two sets of, parallel, transversely extending cylindrical bru'sh rolls, namely, an upper setgenerally indicatedat 2 and a lower set generally indicated at 3. Preferably, for cleaning asparagus, the brush bristles are formed of horsehair or other similarly soft material, although for cleaning other products, bristles of'greater or lesserstifiness maybe used according-to the nature and requirements of the particular product to be cleaned. All of the brushes are rotatably mounted bymeans of the brush shafts 4 which project through the side walls of the tank, theupper brush shafts being journalled, in bearings 5 carried by side rails 6 secured totheoutside of ,the tank, and the lower brush shafts being journalled' in bearings 1 carried by side rails 8 extending parallel to and beneath the rails 6.

The brushes of the upper set, indicated at 9, I0 and II respectively, are arranged with their peripheries in closely adjacent relation, and are driven from a drive shaft I2 journalled in bearings I3 carried by a supporting framework l4 mounted to one side of thetank l. Thedrive shaft i2 is provided with a pulleyv l5 which may be driven from any suitable source of power, and carries a series of bevel gears I6, H and I8 which intermesh respectively with corresponding bevel gears I9, 20 and 2| secured to the outer ends of the upper brush shafts.

The brushes 22 and 23 of the lower set are arranged beneath the valleys formed between the brushes of the upper setand are driven by chains 24 and 25 respectively. The chain 24 is trained around a pair. of sprockets 26 carried respectively by the shaft of the upper brush 9 and lower brush 22. The chain 25 is trained around the sprockets 21 carried by the shafts of the upper brush II and lower brush 23.

It is to be observed that the ratios and arrangement of the associated pairs of bevel gears l 6-l 9, I'l-ZB, and l82l are such that the first two brushes 9 and ID of the upper set are driven in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, but that the brush I [I is driven at a slowerv speed thanthe brush 9. The final brush 1 l is driven in an anticlockwise direction, and preferably at a higher rate of speed than the middle brush I 0. The two brushes 22 and 23 of the lower set are driven in opposite directions so that their upper peripheries move towards each other, and may be driven at the same speeds. I have found that with upper brushes of 5" diametereach and lower brushes of 6" diameter each, rotative speeds of 400 R. P. M., R. P. M., and 400 R. P. M., respectively for the upper brushes 9, l0 and II, and 400 R. P. M. for each of the lower. brushes, gives satisfactory results for cleaning asparagus, but it is to be understood that these particular speeds are given as illustrative examples only and may be varied according to preference, conditions of operation, or to suit the requirements of the par.- ticular product to be cleaned.

In operation, the asparagus to be cleaned is indiscriminately spread, although preferably not too deeply, upon the feed conveyor 21, which disone of the spray pipes 39 which extend above the valleys between the brushes. Water may be supplied to the spray pipes from any suitable source through the header 3|. The wash water is collected in the lower part of the tank I provided with an outlet 32 from which the water may be discharged to the sewer, or if desired, pumped back to the spray pipes for re-use.

It will be apparent that although the first two brushes 9 and Ill are driven in a common direction of rotation, the speed difierential between them causes the asparagus in the bottom of the valley to be urged downwardly between the brushes, due to the greater speed of the downwardly travelling periphery of the brush 9 than;

that of the adjacent upwardly travelling periphery of the brush l9 and the length of the bristles relative to the size of the asparagus is such as to permit the product to be positively discharged downwardly through the valley. On the other hand, if the asparagus is delivered in suflicient quantities, it will not only pile up in the valley between the brushes to a certain extent depending upon the rate of feed, but many of the stalks will inevitably be deposited crosswise of the brushes, and the common direction of rotation of the brushes causes these crosswise stalks, together with those piled on top of them and those which by reason of their position in the pile are more greatly affected by the brush l than the brush 9, to advance over the crest of the brush l0 into the next succeeding valley. The result is that in operation a portion of the asparagus delivered into the valley between the first two brushes is positively discharged downwardly between the brushes while the rest advances over the middle brush into the next valley.

The asparagus reaching the valley between the brushes l0 and II ishowever subjected to the action of oppositely rotating brushes, and the brush H not only opposes further advance of the asparagus, but does so with greater force than the brush l0 tends to advance it, due to its higher rate of speed. Moreover, the downwardly moving adjacent peripheries of the brushes cooperate to urge the asparagus downwardly between them, with the result that all of the asparagus delivered into the valley between the rolls l0 and l l is positively discharged downwardly between them.

The stalks of asparagus discharged downwardly between the brush rolls of the upper set fall upon the upper surfaces of the oppositely rotating pair of lower brushes as will be apparent, and is moved by these latter brushes into the valley between them where it receives further brushing. The staggered relation of the lower brushes with respect to the upper ones permits them to be mounted as illustrated for cooperation with the upper intermediate brush to form passageways 33, through which the asparagus passes in brushing engagement with the adjacent faces of the rolls forming the passageways. This arrangement provides added brushing action and also causes a slight bending action on the stalks as they pass into and out of the passageways which increases the brushing action on the stalks as they pass to the valley between the lower brushes. From the latter valley the asparagus is discharged downwardly under the action of the adjacent downwardly moving brush peripheries.

As heretofore pointed out, these lower brushes are somewhat larger than those of the upper set so that although they are set closely together, their axes are offset from beneath the valleys between the upper brushes. With this arrangement, the asparagus does not fall directly upon the crests of the lower brushes, but slightly over toward the valley between them, which insures a proper and positive feed to the latter valley. Moreover, the paths from the valleys between the upper brushes to the valley between the lower ones makes a less abrubt turn than would be the case if smaller brushes were used, thereby minimizing danger of bending the stalks to the point of breaking them as they are transferred from the upper valleys to the lower one.

The asparagus discharged from the lower brushes may be received upon an endless conveyor 34 which carries it out of the tank to any suitable point of discharge.

It will be seen that the asparagus receives a thorough brushing during its passage through the machine, first by the upper brushes, again as it passes between the upper, middle brush and the cooperating faces of the lower brushes, and finally by the lower brushes as it passes into and downwardly through the valley between them. During the brushing treatment it is also thoroughly washed so that it is effectively cleaned by the time it reaches the discharge conveyor.

It may be observed that although, in the particular embodiment selected for illustration, the upper set of brushes employs three brushes, and the lower set two, a greater or lesser number may be employed if desired. For example, additional brushes such as 9 and I0 might be placed ahead of them and additional sets of lower brushes be arranged to cooperate therewith. Or, if a smaller machine or less brushing be desired, the brush 9 may be dispensed with, or both the brush 9 and 22 be eliminated. Obviously, if only the brush 9 is omitted the machine will have less capacity but the asparagus will receive substantially the same amount of treatment. On the other hand, if both the brushes 9 and 22 be omitted, the capacity of the machine will not only be reduced but the asparagus will receive somewhat less treatments.

Modifications such as just referred to may be desirable forcertain conditions or purposes, and it will be understood that these and other variations in arrangement as well as various modifications and alterations in structure may be made without in any way departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Moreover, it will also be understood that although I have described the invention as it may be used in connection with the cleaning of asparagus, it may likewise be used for cleaning other vegetables or articles as well, and I deem myself entitled to all such uses, arrangements, modifications and alterations.

I claim:

1. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a series of brush rolls made up of a plurality of initial rolls and a terminal roll, means mounting said brush rolls in adjacent parallel relation to form a brushing bed over which vegetables may be advanced transversely of the rolls, means for driving the .initial rolls in a common direction of rotation corresponding to the direction of ad Vance of said vegetables, and means for driving the terminal roll in a direction of rotation opposite the others to arrest the advance of the vegetables, the spacing of the terminal roll and the oppositely rotating adjacent roll and the ratio of their speed of rotation being such that the vegetables resting on said terminal roll'and the oppositelyflrotating-adjacent roll aredischarged downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement therewith.

-2. Inavegetable cleaning machine, a series of brush-rolls made up of a plurality of initial rolls and a terminal roll, means mounting said brush rolls in adjacent parallel relation to form a brushing bed over which vegetables may be :advanced transversely of the rolls, means for driving the initial rolls in-a common direction of rotation corresponding to the direction of advance of said vegetables, and means for driving the terminal roll in a direction of rotation opposite the others and at a greater peripheral speed than "the immediately preceding roll whereby to arrest the advance of the-vegetables the spacing of the terminal roll and the oppositely rotating adjacent roll and the ratio of their speed of rotation being such that'the vegetables resting onsaid terminal roll'and the oppositely rotating 'adjacent roll are discharged downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement therewith.

3. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a series of brush rolls made up of a' plurality of initial rolls and a terminal roll, said brush rolls being arranged in adjacent parallel and spaced relation to form a brushing bed over which vegetables may be advanced transversely of the rolls, means for driving the initial rolls in a common direction of rotation corresponding to the direction of advance of said vegetables and at progressively slower speeds the spacing of the initial rolls and the ratio of their speed of rotation being such that a portion of the vegetables passingthereover are discharged downwardly therebetween and means for driving the terminal roll in a direction opposite the others to arrest further advance of the'vegetables and to discharge the same downwardly between said terminal roll and the oppositely rotating adjacent roll.

4. In a vegetable cleaning machinev a series of brush rolls made up of a plurality of initial rolls and a terminal roll, means mounting said brush rolls in adjacent parallel and spacetlrelation to form a brushing bed over which Vege-- tables may be advanced transversely of the rolls. means for driving the initial rolls in a common direction corresponding to the direction of advance'of said vegetables and atprogressiv'ely slower speeds, the spacing and ratio of the speed of rotation of the rolls being such that a pm tion of the vegetables passing therecver are dis charged downwardly therebetween, 'and means for driving the terminal roll in a direction opposite the others and at av greaterperipheral speed than the immediately preceding roll whereby to arrest further advance ofthe vegetables and to discharge the same downwardly between said terminal roll and the oppositely rotating adjacent roll.

5. In a vegetable cleaning machine. a-pair of brush rolls arranged in closely'spaced'parallel relation to form a brushing bed over'whichvege tables may be advanced transversely of the rolls, means for driving said rolls to efiect the discharge of vegetables downwardly from the valley formed therebetween, a second pair of brush rolls mounted in spaced relation beneath and parallel to said upper 'rolls toreceive therebetween vegetables discharged downwardlyfrom said upper rolls, and means for driving said lower rolls in opposite directions to eiiect the discharge of vegetables downwardly from the valley formed therebetween.

6. In a vegetable cleaning machine, two pairs of'zbrush' rolls; each spair :of: rollsbeing :arranged in spaced parallelzfrelationz to; form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween and i one of said pairs :of :rolls :being v mounted "beneath and in spaced and staggeredirelatiom tothe :other pair whereby vegetables passing downwardly from the valley formed .betweenithe supper pair of rolls .are receivedlupon thezuppersurface 'of one-of said lower pair of rolls,.and;means 'fordrivin each pair of rollstoiefiect the'discharge: of vegetables downwardly therebetween,-said vegetable receiving roll of the lower rpair'being ldrivensin a direction to cause: itsiaupper surface to :move toward saidilower valley and fbeing mounted for cooperation "with-one of said upperrolls to form a brushing passagewaythrough which the vegetables pass in sbrushing engagement with the faces of the rollsformin-gsaidpassageway as said :vegetables pass into-the valleyxbetween the lower rolls.

7. In a vegetable. cleaningnmachine, two pairs of :brush rolls, each pair of rolls beingzarran-ged in spaced parallel relation .to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, the :rolls of one of said pairsloeing larger than 'thoseof the-other pair and being mounted beneath and in staggered relation thereto whereby vegetablespassing downwardly'from the valley-formed between the upper pair of rolls are received upon the upper surface of one of'said lower pair "of rolls to the side of its crest-adjacent the'valley'between saidlower'rollsyiand means for driving each pair of rolls to 'efiecttthe discharge ofvegetables downwardly therebetween, said vegetable receiving roll of the lower pair being driven in a direction to cause its upper surface to move toward said lower valley and being mounted for cooperation'wi'th one of said vupper'rolls to form "a brushing passageway between-said upper roll and the vegetable receiving sideof said lower roll through which the vegetables pass in brushing engagement-with the faces of the rolls forming said passagewayas saidvegetables pass into the valley between the lower rolls.

8. In a vegetable cleaningmachine, a set of three brush rolls arranged in axially spaced parallel relation: to form vegetable receiving valleys ther'ebetweenfrom one'to the other of'which valleys vegetables may be advanced transversely of the intervening roll, and as-econd set of two brush rolls--also arranged in axially spaced parallel relation'to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, the rolls of said second set being'mounted beneath the valleys'forrned between the rolls of the 'upper setwhereby vegetables passing downwardly'through said upper valleys are received upon the upper faces of the lower rolls,- and means for driving said lower rolls in opposite directions for discharging vegetables received thereby between the same and in brushing contact therewith.

9. In a'vegetable cleaning machine, a set of three brushrolls-- arranged in axially spaced parallel relation to form vegetable receiving valleys therebetween from onetothe other of which valleys vegetables may be-advanced transversely of the intervening roll, means for differentially driving said rolls in -a common direction to discharge vegetables downwardly therebetween, and a second set of two brush rolls also arranged in axially spaced parallel relation-to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, the rolls of said second set being mounted beneaththe valleys formedbetween the rolls of the upper set whereby vegetables passing downwardly through said upper valleys are received upon' the upper faces of the lower rolls, and means for driving the second set of rolls in opposite directions for discharging the vegetables received thereby downwardly between the same and in brushing contact therewith.

10. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a set of three brush rolls arranged in spaced parallel relation to form vegetable receiving valleys therebetween from one to the other of which valleys vegetables may be advanced transversely of the intervening roll, means for driving two of said rolls in a common direction corresponding to the direction of advance of said vegetables and at progressively slower speeds whereby a portion of the vegetables are discharged downwardly therebetween, means for driving the third roll in a direction opposite the others to arrest further advance of the vegetables and to discharge the same downwardly between said third roll and the oppositely rotating adjacent roll, and a second set of two brush rolls also arranged in spaced parallel relation to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, the rolls of said second set being mounted beneath the valleys formed between the rolls of the upper set whereby vegetables passing downwardly through said upper valleys are received upon the upper faces of the lower rolls.

11. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a set of.

three brush rolls arranged in spaced parallel relation to form vegetable receiving valleys therebetween from one to the other of which valleys vegetables may be advanced transversely of the intervening roll, means for driving said rolls to discharge vegetables downwardly therebetween, a second set of two brush rolls also arranged in spaced parallel relation to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, means mounting the rolls of said second set beneath the valleys formed between the rolls of the upper set for receiving vegetables passing downwardly through said upper valleys upon the upper faces of the lower rolls, and means for driving said lower rolls in opposite directions for discharging vegetables downwardly therebetween.

12. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a set of three brush rolls arranged in axially spaced parallel relation to form vegetable receiving Valleys therebetween from one to the other of which valleys vegetables may be advanced transversely of the intervening roll, and a second set of two brush rolls also arranged in axially spaced parallel relation to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, the rolls of said second set being mounted beneath the valleys formed between the rolls of the upper set whereby vegetables passing downwardly through said upper valleys are received upon the upper faces of the lower rolls, the rolls of said lower set cooperating with the intermediate roll of the upper set to form brushing passageways through which the vegetables are directed in brushing engagement with the faces of-the rolls forming said passageways as said vegetables pass into the valley be tween the lower rolls, and means for rotating said second set of rolls in opposite directions for discharging the vegetables received thereby downwardly between the same and in brushing contact therewith.

13. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a set of three brush rolls arranged in spaced and parallel relation to form vegetable receiving valleys therebetween from one to the other of which valleys vegetables may be advanced transversely of the intervening roll, and a second set of two brush rolls also arranged in spaced and parallel relation to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, the rolls of said second set being larger than those of the other set and being mounted beneath the valleys formed between the rolls of the upper set whereby vegetables passing downwardly through said upper valleys are received upon the upper faces of the lower rolls to the sides of their crests adjacent the valley between them, the rolls of said lower set cooperating with the intermediate roll of the upper set to form brushing passageways through which the vegetables are directed in brushing engagement with the faces of the rolls forming said passageways as said vegetables pass into the valley between the lower rolls, and means for rotating the lower rolls in opposite directions for discharging the vegetables therebetween.

14. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a set of three brush rolls arranged in spaced and parallel relation to form vegetable receiving valleys therebetween from one to the other of which valleys Vegetables may be advanced transverse- 1y of the intervening roll, means for driving two of said rolls in a common direction corresponding to the direction of advance of said vegetables and at progressively slower speeds whereby a portion of the vegetables are discharged downwardly therebetween, means for driving the third roll in a direction opposite the others to arrest further advance of the vegetables and to discharge the same downwardly between said third roll and the oppositely rotating adjacent roll, a second set of two brush rolls also arranged in spaced and parallel relation to form a vegetable receiving valley therebetween, and means for driving said second set of rolls to move their upper surfaces toward the valley therebetween, means mounting the rolls of said second set beneath the valleys formed between the rolls of the upper set whereby vegetables passing downwardly through said upper valleys are received upon the upper faces of the lower rolls to the sides of their crests adjacent the valley between them, the rolls of said lower set cooperating with the intermediate roll of the upper set to form brushing passageways through which the vegetables are directed in brushing engagement with the faces of the rolls forming said passageways as said vegetables pass into the valley between the lower rolls.

15. In a vegetable cleaning machine, an upper pair of parallel brush rolls arranged transversely to the flow of Vegetables thereover, means for driving said rolls in a common direction of rotation, said rolls being mounted in such axially spaced relation as to support a part of said vegetables therebetween for advancement across the rolls while permitting others of said vegetables to pass downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the rolls, and a third parallel brush roll mounted beneath the valley formed between said upper pair of rolls to receive upon its upper surface the vegetables passing downwardly between said upper rolls and arranged to direct said vegetables over a path between and in brushing engagement with adjacent faces of said lower roll and one of said upper rolls, said path being uninterrupted to permit said vegetables to be discharged from between the adjacent faces of said lower and upper rolls.

16. In a vegetable cleaning machine, an upper pair of brush rolls arranged in axially spaced parallel relationtransversely to the flow ofthe vegetables thereover, means for differentially driving; said rolls in a common-'directionof rotationythe axialspacingand speed of :rotation of the'roll's being such as to support apartcf'said vegetables therebetween for advancement across the rolls while permitting others of said vegetables to pass: downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the rolls, and a third parallel brush roll mounted beneath the valley formed between said upper pair of rolls to receive-upon its 'upper-surfacethe vegetables passing downwardly, between said upper rolls and arranged to direct'said vegetables over a path betweenandin brushing engagement with adjacent faces of said lower roll and: cheer said upper rolls, said path being uninterrupted to permit'said: vegetables to be discharged from between the adjacent faces of saidlower and upper rolls.

1'7. In a vegetable cleaning machine; an upper pair of parallel brush rolls arranged transversely to the flow of vegetables thereover, means for driving said rolls in a common direction of rotation, said rolls being mounted in such axially spaced relation as to support a part of said vegetables therebetween for advancement across the rolls while permitting others of said vegetables to pass downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the rolls, a lower pair of axially spaced parallel brush rolls mounted beneath and in staggered relation to said upper rolls whereby vegetables passing downwardly from the valley formed between said upper pair of rolls are received upon the upper surface of one of said lower rolls, and means for driving said lower rolls to cause the vegetables to pass downwardly between the same.

18. In a vegetable cleaning machine, an upper pair of parallel brush rolls arranged in adjacent vegetable supporting relation, means for driving said rolls in opposite directions to effect the discharge of vegetables downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the rolls, and a third parallel brush roll mounted beneath the valley formed between said upper pair of rolls to receive upon its upper surface the vegetables passing downwardly between said upper rolls and arranged to direct said vegetables over a path between and in brushing engagement with adjacent faces of said lower roll and one of said upper rolls, said path being uninterrupted to permit said vegetables to be discharged from between the adjacent faces of said lower and upper rolls.

19. In a vegetable cleaning machine, an upper air of parallel brush rolls arranged in adjacent vegetable supporting relation, means for differentially driving said rolls in opposite directions to effect the discharge of vegetables downwardly therebetween and in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the rolls, and a third parallel brush roll mounted beneath the valley formed between said upper pair of rolls to receive upon its upper surface the Vegetables passing downwardly between said upper rolls and arranged to direct said vegetables over a path between and in brushing engagement with adjacent faces of said lower roll and one of said upper rolls, said path being uninterrupted to permit said vegetables to be discharged from between the adjacent faces of said lower and upper rolls.

20. A vegetable cleaning machine comprising a brushing bed including a plurality of initial brush rolls and a terminal brush roll, means mounting said rollsin adjacent axially spaced parallel z-relation transversely to the direction of flow of -theevegetables thereover, the axial spacing of said initial brush rolls being such as; to support .a 'part ofsaid vegetables therebetweenfor: advancement transversely across the rolls;

while permitting otherv of said vegetables to pass downwardly therebetween-and in brush-ing engagement with adjacent surfaces of theroll, means 'for driving the initial rolls in'a common direction of rotation to move their upper surfaces toward said terminal roll, and means for driving theterminal roll in an opposite direction ofrotation with respect to' said initial rolls to arrest the advance of the vegetables oversaid initial rolls and discharge them downwardly between-the terminal roll and-the adjacent'initial rollr-andzin brushing: contact with their adjacent-facesr 21. In a vegetable cleaning machine, a plurality of pbrush-rol'ls'arranged in adjacent axially spaced parallel relation transversely to the flow of the vegetables, means for driving said rolls in a common direction and at differential speeds for advancing vegetables transversely across the rolls and for discharging a portion of the vegetables downwardly therebetween and in brushing contact therewith, a terminal roll arranged in adjacent axially spaced parallel relation with respect to one of said rolls, and means for driving said terminal roll in an opposite direction with respect to the direction of rotation of said rolls to arrest the advance of vegetables thereover and to discharge the same between the terminal roll and one of said rolls and in brushing contact therewith.

22. In an asparagus cleaning machine, a plurality of upper parallel spaced brush rolls arranged transversely to the flow of asparagus thereover and spaced sufficiently closely to provide an asparagus brushing passageway therebetween, means for rotating said rolls in the same direction and at different speeds to move asparagus downwardly through said passageway in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of said rolls, a lower brush roll disposed substantially centrally beneath and in :parallel relation to said upper rolls and spaced sufficiently closely to said upper rolls to provide an additional asparagus brushing passageway between said lower brush roll and one upper brush roll, all of said rolls having bristles of relatively soft material to avoid undue damage to the asparagus, means for rotating said lower brush roll to cooperate with said upper brush roll to brush and discharge said asparagus through said last mentioned passageway to obtain a further brushing action, and means disposed beneath said lower brush roll for receiving and discharging from the machine the brushed asparagus as the same is discharged from said second mentioned brushing passageway transversely of said rolls.

23. In a vegetable cleaning machine, an upper pair of parallel brush rolls arranged transversely to the flow of vegetables thereover to define therebetween a vegetable brushing passageway extending transversely of the rolls, means for driving said rolls in a common direction of rotation, said rolls being mounted in such axially spaced relation as to support a part of said vegetables therebetween for advancement across the rolls while permitting other of said vegetables to pass downwardly through said passageway in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the rolls, a third parallel lower brush roll mounted beneath the valley formed beneath said pair of rolls and having its axis ofiset from the vertical medial plane of said valley whereby vegetables passing downwardly through said passageway are received upon the upper surface of said lower roll to one side of its crest, the vegetable receiving side of said lower roll cooperating with one of said upper rolls to form a brushing passageway through which the vegetables may pass transversely in brushing engagement with both of said rolls and be discharged downwardly at one side of said lower roll, and means for driving said lower brush roll in a direction to cause its upper periphery to move towards a said passageway.

24. In a vegetable cleaning machine, an upper pair of parallel brush rolls arranged transversely to the flow of vegetables thereover to define therebetween a vegetable brushing passageway extending transversely of the rolls, means for driving said rolls in a common direction of rotation, said rolls being mounted in such axially spaced relation as to support a part of said vegetables therebetween for advancement across the rolls while permitting other of said vegetables to pass downwardly through said passageway in brushing engagement with adjacent surfaces of said rolls, a lower pair of axially spaced parallel brush rolls mounted beneath and in staggered relation to said upper rolls wheerby vegetables passing downwardly through said passageway are received upon the upper surface of one of said lower rolls to the side of its crest adjacent the valley between said lower rolls, said lower receiving roll being mounted for cooperation with one of said upper rolls and with the other of said lower rolls to form additional successive brushing passageways through which the vegetables may pass transversely in brushing engagement with said upper roll and with both of said lower rolls and be discharged downwardly between said lower rolls, and means for driving said lower rolls in opposite directions.

JOSEPH THOMAS. 

